Stock feed for automatic multiple spindle lathe



R. w. BROWN STOCK FEED FOR AUTOMATIC MULTIPLE SPINDLE LATHE Filed Jan. 21, 1958 I 3 Sheets-Sheet l g a My Nov. 21, i961 R. w. BROWN STOCK FEED FOR AUTOMATIC MULTIPLE SPINDLE LATHE Filed Jan. 21, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 21, 1961 R. w. BROWN 3,009,617

STOCK FEED FOR AUTOMATIC MULTIPLE SPINDLE LATHE Filed Jan. 21, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 hiz/272757 @962 M'Zmzwz 3,009,617 Patented Nov. 21, 1961 fiice ration of Vermont Filed Jan. 21, 1958, Ser. No. 710,208 Claims. (Cl. 226-155) This invention relates to attachments for multiple spindle automatic lathes and more particularly to a novel and improved stock feeding mechanism for such lathes.

This invention is concerned with multiple spindle automatic lathes of the type disclosed in the U3. Patent No. 2,130,809, issued September 20, 1938, in the name of Carroll E. Miller, and it is an object of this invention to provide a novel and improved stock feeding mechanism for use with such a lathe whereby stock may be loaded into the spindles of the machine and the stock fed without requiring the machine to be shut down and which will provide more accurate positioning of the stock axially of the spindles permitting a decrease in the range of tolerances for the finished part.

It is further an object of this invention to provide a stock feed mechanism of the type described which will increase the speed of operation of the machine; which willfeed stock of various lengths without requiring adjustment of the feed mechanism; which will feed stock of varying diameters with only an easily and quickly accomplished minor adjustment to the feed mechanism; and which is less costly and has a longer service life than previously developed stock feed mechanisms.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a multi-spindle lathe embodying the present invention;

I FIG. 2 is an end view partly in section of the machine of FIG. 1 with the motor for driving the stock feed mechanism and the stock reel removed;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary end view of the machine of FIG. 2 illustrating the stock feed mechanism of the in- Vention with the driving motor in place;

, FIG. 4 is an enlarged end view of the stock feeding mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4';

FIG. '6 is a cross sectional view substantially along the line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view substantially along the line 7-7 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the machine of FIG. 1 embodying a modified form of the invention.

With reference to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a machine of a type with which this invention is concerned comprises a base 10, a top bed frame 12 and frame members 14, 16 and '18 supporting the top bed on the base. An indexable spindle carrier 20 is rotatably supported inwardly of the frame members 16 and 18 on a spindle drive shaft 22 supported on the base by an end frame, not shown. The spindle carrier rotatably supports a plurality of rotatable spindles 24 circularly disposed about its axis and in which are re-' ceivable cylindrical work bars 26 which extend rearwardly of the machine as shown in FIG. 1 for support of their ends by a stock reel, not shown. Each spindle carries means (not shown) for chucking the work therein which chucking means may be of any suitable type. The spindle canrier is substantially enclosed by side panels 28 and end panel 30 and a turret 32 for the support of cutting tools is mounted on the spindle drive shaft for movement axially thereof. Cross slides 34 are also provided on opposite sides of the machine for tool mounting.

Mounted on the top bed 12 is a cam shaft 36 on which is mounted a plurality of cams for the control of the sequence of operation of the various elements of the machine. A pivoted stock stop 37 is slidably mounted on a bar 38 supported on the base of the machine and is pivotable under the control of one of the cams on the cam shaft 36 into and out of alignment with the lowermost spindle for engagement with the end of the bar carried thereby during feeding of the bar to limit the extent of stock feeding. The stock stop is preferably adjustable axially of the spindle to permit adjustment of the amount of stock feeding, as desired. It is believed that the foregoging general description of the machine is sufficient fora full understanding of the present invention to be described. For a more detailed description of the machine, as Well as its operating sequence, reference may be had to the above-mentioned Patent No. 2,130,809.

With particular reference to FIGS. 4-7, a stock feed mechanism 46 constructed in accordance with the invention, is supported on the end of the machine by brackets 42 mounted on the base 10 and comprises a housing or base member 48 bolted to the rear of the base 10 and having a pair of bosses 50, 50' in which are oscillatably supported a pair of parallel spaced apart sleeve-like extensions 52, 52' of a pair of gear housings 54, 54. A split adjusting nut 55 is threadably engaged with the outer end of each extension 52, 52 to retain the main housing 48 and gear housings 54, 54' in assembly. A pair of shafts 56, 56 are journalled in the extensions 52, 52, and the shaft 56 is provided with a coupling '58 for connection to a gear reduction unit 44 driven by an electric motor 40 mounted on the brackets 42. A pair of intermeshed gears 60, 60' are disposed in the main housing 48 and are mounted on and keyed to the shafts 56, 56' and each is retained thereon by a split collar 62.

Each gear housing 54, 54 is provided with a boss 64 in which is journalled a shaft 66 carrying a replaceable stock engageable roller 68 at its outer end fixed to the shaft 66 by a cap screw 72. A beveled gear 74 is mounted on and keyed to the inner end of each shaft 66 and is engaged with a beveled gear 76 mounted on and keyed to each of the shafts 56, 56'. A pair of intermeshed gears 78, 78 are mounted on and fixed to the axial extensions 52, 52 of the gear housings 54, 54' to provide simultaneous rotation of the gear housings in opposite directions of rotation. A lever 80 is mounted on the extension 52 intermediate the gear 78 and gear housing 54 for rotation with the gear and gear housing.

The outer end of the lever 80, as shown most clearly in FIG. 2 is pivotally connected to one end of a link 82 on which is slidably mounted a block 84 f or movement between a pair of stops 85, 86 each comprising a pair of nuts. A coil spring 87 is disposed about the link 82 and engaged between the stop 86 and block 84 to urge the block to the left as viewed in FIG. 2, and provides a resilient driving connection between the block 84 and link82 upon movement of the block to the right as viewed in FIG. 2. A lever 88 is pivotally connected to the block 84 and has a hub mounted on a shaft 89 oscillatably supported on the end wall 30 of the frame. A lever 90 is mounted on the shaft 89 for movement there" with and is pivotally connected to one end of a link: 9-1 which is connected at its other end to one end of a 3 rocker arm 92 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the top bed of the machine. The other end of the rocker arm carries a roller 94 engaged in a groove 96 in the face of a cam 98 mounted on the cam shaft 36 for rotation therewith.

In the operation of a multi-spindle machine incorporating a stock feed mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention, the cam 98 actuates the feed mechanism once during each cycle of the machine or, more specifically, as the cam pivots the rocker arm from the dotted line position shown in FIG. 2 to the full line posi tion and return once for each rotation of the cam shaft 36 to the indexing in timed relation of the spindle carrier. The normal position of the rocker arm is the dotted line position shown in FIG. 2 whereby the link 90 is in its dotted line lower position, the lever 88 is in its dotted line leftward position, as viewed in FIG. 2 and the rollers 68 are in the dotted line positions shown in FIG. 4 with the rollers out of engagement with the stock carried by the lowermost spindle. Just subsequent to indexing of the carrier and preferably immediately upon location of a spindle in its lowermost position, the cam 96 will pivot the rocker arm toward its full line position to pivot the lever 88 toward its rightward position and through the resilient drive of the spring 87 to pivot the gear housings 54, 54 toward each other and bring the rollers 68 into engagement with the stock in the lowermost spindle. The motor is continuously operated so that the rollers will be rotating upon engagement with the stock to provide immediate feeding of the stock toward the stock stop 37. It is, of course, to be understood that the chucking means, not shown, associated with the lowermost spindle will be actuated by one of the cams on the cam shaft 36 in timed relation to the indexing of the spindle carrier and stock feeding to release the stock for feeding and subsequently to reengage the stock.

A modification of the invention is shown in FIG. 8 wherein the stock feeding mechanism comprises a pair of feed units 146, 246 each substantially identical with the unit 46 of FIGS. 1-7. The unit 146 is supported on a bracket 142 supported on the machine base 110. The unit 246 is bolted to the end wall 130 of the machine and is disposed in coaxial alignment with the unit 146. A motor 140 is supported on the brackets 142 and connected through a gear reduction unit (not shown) to the drive shaft 156 of the feed unit 146. The shaft 156 is connected at its other end to the drive shaft 256 of the unit 246 whereby the feed rollers 168, 268 of both units 146, 246 will be continuously and simultaneously driven.

The rollers 263 are moved into and out of stock engagement by a link 191 adapted to be connected at one end to a mountable cam, as in the previously described embodiment, and connected at its other end to an oscillatable shaft on which is mounted a lever 290 which is connected through a resilient drive such as in the case of the lever 70 of FIG. 2, to a lever 270 mounted for movement with the gear housing 254. The outer end portion of the shaft 199 is journalled on an upright support 181 on the bracket 142 and a lever 190 is fixed to the outer end of the shaft for movement therewith. The lever 190 is connected to the lever 170 mounted for movement with the gear housing 154 through a resilient drive such as in the case of the lever 70 of FIG. 2. The operation of the embodiment of FIG. 8 is identical with that of the previously described embodiment of FIGS. 1-7 with the added advantage that when the outer end of one piece of stock passes the rollers 168 another piece may be inserted behind it to feed the first piece through the spindle lever after it has passed the rollers 268.

A stock feeding mechanism constructed as described provides many advantages over the previously available stock feeding mechanisms, such as, stock pushers and tubes disposed in each spindle. The loading of stock bars into the spindles is greatly facilitated, as it is only necessary to place the stock in the spindles and they need not be pounded into place as is the case with conventional stock pusher tube arrangements. The stock capacity of the spindles is increased up to the maximum diameter of the chuck, and the feed rolls may be easily changed from one size to another when it is desired to change from one stock diameter to another. The loading of the feeding mechanism may be accomplished without shutting down the machine, and with the use of a tandem arrangement, such as shown in FIG. 8, the stock feed is substantially continuous, which, of course, greatly enhances the speed of production.

Further, the use of a stock feeding mechanism, constructed in accordance with the invention, eliminates any tendency of the stock bars to rebound when the stock is fed against the stock-stop in that the continuously rotating feed rollers tend to hold the stock in stock-stop engagement which assures that work pieces will always be cut to the same length thus reducing the range of tolerances in the finished part. The continuously operated feed rolls may be engaged with the stock prior to opening of the chucking means holding the stock whereupon the rolls will slip until the chuck is opened sufiiciently to permit feeding. Thus all of the chuck opening time may be used for feeding the stock in which event a more desirable slower stock feeding rate may be utilized while retaining the same or reducing the overall time required for the feeding operation. The particular arrangement shown for engaging and disengaging the feed rolls with the stock permits very fast movement of the feed rolls into and out of stock engagement and materially contributes to a reduction in the time required for the overall feeding operation. The cam controlled movement of the feed rolls into and out-of-stock engagement assures positive action and synchronization of feed roll movement with the other elements of the machine.

It has been found that the service life of the feed rolls of a stock feeding mechanism, constructed as described, provides a much longer service life than is obtained with conventional pusher tubes and pushers, and is less expensive to fabricate and maintain than stock feeding mechanisms previously developed. It can thus be seen that there has been provided a novel and improved stock feeding mechanism, particularly adapted for use with a multispindle machine which is in itself more economical and eificient than previously developed stock feed mechanisms and which will increase the efficiency and speed of the machine with which used.

While the invention has been described in terms of the specific embodiments shown wherein the feed mechanism is located at the lowermost position of the spindle carrier, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention also includes among other obvious modificaitons, the provision of additional stock feed mechanisms at a plurality of spindle carrier indexed positions to provide stock feeding in more than one indexed position of each spindle, if desired.

I claim:

1. A stock-feed mechanism for use with multiple spindle lathes and the like comprising, a base member, first and second stock-engageable drive members, means including a shaft rotatably mounting each of said drive members on said base member, each said shaft being supported on said base member for oscillatory movement about an axis parallel to the oscillatory axis of the other shaft, the oscillatory axis of each said shaft being parallel to the direction of stock feed, means for controlling the oscillated position of each said shaft, drive means continuously connected to each said shaft for rotating said drive members throughout the range of oscillatory movement of the shaft, and means for mounting said base member on the lathe with said stock-engageable drive members positioned to be oscillated into alignment with aocaew one of the lathe spindles and into stock-feeding engagement with the stock contained therein.

2. A stock-feed mechanism for use with multiple spindle lathes and the like in which the spindles are adapted to be indexed to various positions comprising, a base member, first and second stock-engageable drive members, means including a shaft rotatably mounting each of said drive members on said base member, each said shaft being supported on said base member for oscillatory movement about an axis parallel to the oscillatory axis of the other shaft, means for oscillating the shafts in opposite directions over a predetermined arc of movement, drive means for rotating said drive members in opposite directions, and means for mounting said base member on the lathe with said stock-engageable drive members positioned to be oscillated into alignment with one of the lathe spindles and into stock-feeding engagement with the stock contained therein, said predetermined arc of oscillatory shaft movement being sufiicient to permit movement of the drive members to a position of non-interference with the multiple spindle lathe during indexing thereof.

3. A stock-feed mechanism for use with multiple spindle lathes and the like in which the spindles are adapted to be indexed to various positions comprising, a base member, first and second stock-engageable drive members, means including a shaft rotatably mounting each of said drive members on said base member, each said shaft being supported on said base member for oscillatory movement about an axis parallel to the oscillatory axis of the other shaft, means for oscillating the shafts in opposite directions over a predetermined arc of movement, drive means continuously connected to each said shaft for rotating said drive members throughout the predetermined arc of oscillatory movement, and means for mounting said base member on the lathe with said stockengageable drive members positioned to be oscillated into alignment with one of the lathe spindles and into stock-feeding engagement with the stock contained therein, said predetermined arc of oscillatory shaft movement being sufiicient to permit movement of the drive members to a position of non-interference with the multiple spindle lathe during indexing thereof.

4. A stock-feed mechanism for use with multiple spindle lathes and the like comprising, a main housing, a pair of gear housings disposed in side-by-side arrangement and oscillatably supported on the main housing for movement about parallel axes, means interconnecting said gear housings for simultaneous oscillatory movement in opposite directions, the axis of oscillatory movement of each gear housing being parallel to the direction of stock feed, a stock-engageable roller rotatably supported on each gear housing, a gear train continuously connecting said rollers for simultaneous rotation in opposite directions throughout the range of oscillatory movement of said gear housings, and means for mounting said main housing on the lathe with said stock-engageable rollers positioned to be oscillated into alignment with one of the lathe spindles and into stock-feeding engagement with the stock contained therein.

5. A stock-feed mechanism for use with multiple spindle lathes and the like comprising, a main housing, a pair of gear housings mounted in side-by-side arrangement on said main housing, each said gear housing having an extension thereof oscillatably supported for movement about an axis parallel to the axis of the other extension, a gear connection between the gear housing extensions, means for oscillating one said extension whereby both of said extensions oscillate in opposite directions through a predetermined arc of movement, the oscillatory axis of each gear housing extension being parallel to the axis of stock feed, a stock-engageable roller rotatably mounted in each gear housing extension, a gear train in each gear housing connected to the roller mounted therein, said gear trains being connected together in the main housing whereby said rollers are rotatable throughout the range of oscillatory gear housing extension movement, and means for mounting said main housing on the lathe with said stock-engageable rollers positioned to be oscillated into alignment with one of the lathe spindles and into stock-feeding engagement with the stock contained therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Mar. 28, 1929 

